STATE LOSING $400M IN VETERANS BENEFITS

Advocates eyeing $11M in allocated funds or trims at vets homes for assistance

“Most veterans understand that when a veteran becomes older, that they have a place to go in California. We take care of our veterans,” said Gravett, whose father and eight brothers also served.

Veterans do pay part of their way, but how much depends on the type of care and their income, Gravett said. “There is no free lunch,” he said.

The state spends about $188 million on general operations on its six homes — more than half the veterans department budget — that house 1,694 residents. The one in Chula Vista houses 305 residents, costs the state $29 million annually and brings in $3.88 million in resident fees.

One argument in play is the vacancy rate. Critics point to the low numbers of filled beds and say perhaps as much as half are not being used.

The department contends the vacancy rate is inflated because the home in Los Angeles is just ramping up and new homes in Redding and Fresno will not admit residents until later this year. Also, not every bed is filled on purpose to make sure patients can be moved in case they become infectious with an illness.

The Little Hoover Commission, a nonpartisan state advisory panel, has already held one broad review of issues related to veteran care and claims and plans more. A much-anticipated investigation of veterans homes by the independent state auditor is expected later this spring. And the Assembly veterans committee opens the first of a number of oversight hearings on Tuesday.

“It’s safe to say the status quo is not acceptable,” said Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi, a Torrance Democrat and committee chairman.

California is home to nearly 2 million veterans, including about 228,500 in San Diego County. Statewide, veterans in 2010-11 reaped about $4.5 billion in federal pensions and disability pay. In San Diego that figure was $779 million.

For Juan Chavez, a retired Navy captain from Poway, dealing with the federal Department of Veterans Affairs has been a frustrating experience filled with time-consuming delays given the backlog of applications.

He has some benefits after 38 years of service, including time in Vietnam and Iraq. But his injuries have become more acute over time, especially the chronic degeneration of his joints and lung damage from asbestos. So, he filed supplemental claims — the most recent in October 2011.

“I haven’t had a decision yet,” Chavez said. “It’s been nothing but a horrendous battle with them. It’s depressing and stressful. …

“They are swamped. That’s what they tell me. How patient do they want a veteran to be? Two, three, four, five years?” Chavez continued. “A lot of veterans are surviving on just their retirement and benefits. If you’re not getting that, your quality of life isn’t what it should be after years of defending your country.”

Federal delays in processing claims by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are compounding problems in getting the money into their pockets and into the local economies, say state advocates for veterans.